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Iceland president returns to OSU, OARDC

December 9, 2009

Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson has returned to Ohio to strengthen the bonds he created with Ohio State faculty and staff when he visited campus in 2007.

Grimsson arrived Dec. 9 and will stay through Dec. 13 to continue fostering the relationship between his country and Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Grimsson’s visits focus on fostering climate change research and raising awareness of the impacts of land degradation caused by human misuse and natural activity. He also will receive an honorary degree at autumn commencement Dec. 13.

He will give a presentation at 1 p.m. Dec. 10 in Fisher Auditorium at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center in Wooster. The lecture, “Iceland’s Lessons for World Sustainability: Soil as the New Soldier in Fighting Climate Change,” is free to the public.

“President Grimsson is a strong advocate of using soil and terrestrial biota as sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide,” said Rattan Lal, an Ohio State soil scientist with the college’s School of Environment and Natural Resources. “President Grimsson considers soil restoration integral to any strategy to mitigating climate change.”

Grimsson also will present a lecture, “Climate Change: Global Lessons for the United States. The Iceland Experience of Clean Energy and Soil Services,” at noon Dec. 11 at the Columbus Athletic Club in Columbus.

Iceland is a European island in the middle of the northern Atlantic. It’s a small nation, with roughly the same land area as Ohio and with a total population of about one-third of that of the city of Columbus, but its contributions to the environment in the way of renewable energy resources is enormous. In its short 63 years of independence, Iceland has shifted its energy dependence from coal and petroleum to renewable energy sources. Today, 70 percent of the country’s total energy needs and 100 percent of its electricity come from geothermal springs and glacier-fed lakes and rivers.

Health coaching now in OSU’s hands

December 9, 2009

By Jeff McCallister

When Ohio State set out to create a new model for health care — one that reigned in costs while expanding beneficial services to its employees — it hired an outside firm to provide what was a little-known concept three years ago: Health coaching.

CareAllies was given the task of offering a benefit to help empower employees to take control of their health using positive reinforcement and information guidance. The company provided a service where benefits-eligible faculty, staff and their adult dependents could choose to have telephone consultations with a clinically trained health coach to proactively take action and modify lifestyle behaviors — all in an effort to improve their health and help prevent the development of chronic illness. Continue reading ‘Health coaching now in OSU’s hands’

Newsbriefs, 12/10/09

December 9, 2009

National group points to Ohio State  for best medical care

A national quality improvement organization, created by some of the nation’s largest employers, has named two Ohio State University hospitals to its list of US hospitals that deliver the best quality care while attaining the highest levels of efficiency. The Ohio State University Hospital and the James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute are among the safest and most effective hospitals in the country, according to the Leapfrog Group. No other Ohio hospitals are on the list, which was released Dec. 3. The 45 hospitals on the 2009 list represent more than 1,200 hospitals across the country involved in the Leapfrog project. The hospitals are surveyed on several criteria including the use of computerized physician order entry, intensive-care unit physician staffing and adherence to high performance standards for complex, high-risk procedures.

Tressel book sales benefit Thompson Library

OSU head football coach Jim Tressel’s bestselling book, The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life, makes a terrific holiday gift, and autographed copies are available from the OSU Libraries. The autographed book costs $40, and proceeds from the purchase support the Thompson Library. The book is an inspiring blend of football stories, spiritual insights, motivational reading and practical application. For an order form, visit library.osu.edu/blogs/librarynews/2009/10/29/buy-autographed-tressel-book. Continue reading ‘Newsbriefs, 12/10/09′

Faculty & Staff, 12/10/09

December 9, 2009

Grants

Keith Anderson, Social Work, was awarded a $100,000 research grant by the John A. Hartford Foundation, a national organization dedicated to improving health care for older Americans. With the Hartford funds, Anderson will examine the experiences of family caregivers to Holocaust survivors. Results from the study will contribute to knowledge of how to best support family caregivers for older adults who have endured past trauma. Anderson is partnering with Jewish Family Service organizations from the Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus metropolitan areas. Continue reading ‘Faculty & Staff, 12/10/09′

Calendar, 12/10/09

December 9, 2009

Events

Stress relief class for cancer survivors

Dec. 10

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can be a stressful time. This “normal” holiday stress is often multiplied when dealing with cancer. In this class for cancer survivors and their supporters, Brittany Brothers, psychologist and program director of Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center Survivorship Center, and Katy Will, program manager with JamesCare for Life, will provide some practical ways to conserve energy and reduce stress. Participants also will learn some basic methods to relax and renew by integrating simple mind-body interventions that minimize stress. Class is from 6:30-8 p.m. at Longaberger Alumni House, 2200 Olentangy River Road. There is no cost to attend. Call JamesCare for Life at 293-6428 to register.

Dec. 12, OSU Urban Arts Space Exhibition Guided Tours, “Neighborhood Design Center” and “The Monuments of Columbus,” 1-2 p.m., OSU Urban Arts Space, 50 W. Town St., register at uaseducation@osu.edu or 292-8861. Continue reading ‘Calendar, 12/10/09′

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